The Beginning of the Marriage
Chapter 13

Zia had just opened the door of the house, apparently a man in a white T-shirt was already sitting in the living room while playing his laptop. His originally focused gaze stared at the screen, this time Zio turned his head towards Zia, looking at the woman from foot to head. 

“What's up? Something wrong?” asked Zia while confirming the location of her bag. He closed the door slowly, then inched closer to the table. 

“How did you work today?” ask her in a flat tone. 

Asked about the job, Zia immediately felt happy. He is indeed happiest if someone asks what it is like to be a chef because it is his favorite job. 

“I like working there. What else the cooks there are so good to me. There were three male cooks and all of them already had wives. They are very loyal to me and give me a great opportunity to grow. I feel very comfortable working there. Ah, it felt even though I was tired, I felt more at home there than in—” Zia immediately stopped her speech realizing that she was telling too much until she almost dropped it on inappropriate words. 

“From where? Here?” his insistence. 

Zia exhaled as she approached the wall and leaned there. His eyes swept across the entire corner of the living room, then nodded slowly. “Maybe it. Sometimes I'm lonely, but if it's there like I found my life. I can be myself when I'm at a restaurant,” he said seriously. 

Zia. He knows that Zio might not accept Zia saying that this place is not a comfortable place for him, but he must be honest with her so that Zio knows the truth. After all since the beginning they were just friends, ‘kan? So he should be offended. 

The laptop shuts down and Zio closes it later. Both hands he folds in front of the chest and rests his shoulders on the back of the sofa. His gaze was cast on Zia who was still standing on her back on the wall. “I'm sorry if this place isn't convenient for you. But there is also not a place for you to know the purpose of your life. I mean, you can work but don't forget that you have a home,” Zio said. 

Zia frowned not understanding. He thought what did Zio mean to say that. “What do you mean? I keep coming back here, I continue to live my duties as a wife, kok,” Zia replied. 

“I know. Alright, forget. Well now, I have one request if you still want to work there,” he said, releasing his hand and starting to stand from his seat. 

Zia clucked softly. He did not expect that there were requirements that he had to meet when he worked at a restaurant. At first he asked her for permission and she allowed it easily as long as it did not make it difficult, but now came the requirements that she had to hear. 

“What is it?” ask Zia at last. 

“Take the distance with the people there or the man who approaches you whoever it is. Whether it's a worker, a buyer, or anyone else. Don't be too welcome to them,” said Zio. Then he added quickly as soon as he saw Zia's changed facial expression, “It's not because I'm jealous, but because I don't want to if unexpected things will happen to you. You are a woman and you have to take good care of yourself. If you get close to them and maybe get into a relationship with one of them, then there is something unexpected happening, then a big disaster will definitely come to me too,” he explained. 

“You know, ‘kan, that actually I did not want to get married before you? That's because I never found a suitable man. There's nothing I like and I still want to work as usual. So even now, I won't be looking for a partner for now, I still want to work so I have activities, so you don't have to worry,” Zia replied. 

“Yes I know,” says Zio. 

Surely Zio did not understand what he said to Zia, he just could not reveal what was really in his mind. All vocabulary seems to be stifled and can not be issued easily. “Don't think I'm prejudiced by you. I just want to do my best as a friend,”. 

Zia nodded her head. “Nothing you want to say anymore? I'm going to room.” Zia started to move away from the wall. 

Zio shook his head. 

Zia stepped out of her legs to leave the living room, but at once her steps came to a halt as Zio called out her name. “Zia!”

The woman turned her head, looking at Zio who was now approaching towards her. “I also have another reason to forbid you to keep your distance. You know, right, we don't know when we're gonna meet someone. Well, I'm afraid if my Mom or Dad suddenly comes back and accidentally sees you're with someone else, then what should we explain?”

“Not going, just relax.”

What Zia heard from Zio's mouth seemed to be just excuses that she thought were insignificant and a little unreasonable. His parents were in Germany, and it was impossible for them to return without telling Zio first. But because there did not want to be a fight, Zia finally went back to the room and laid her body on the sofa of her personal space. 

His two round eyes stared at the golden-colored ceiling of the room. He looked far away thinking about his relationship with Zio. He thought this was too complicated and should be resolved soon. The woman grabbed the bolster, then buried her face behind the long pillow trying to meld her mind with darkness. 

While still in the living room, Zio cursed at his own words. He held his temple and clucked softly occasionally. “Sial, what have I said. Even the real intent is not conveyed well. I judged her as if she was a woman who could not take care of herself. Jeez Zio, you really are stupid.” The man leaned his head against the sofa, while his left hand was patting his own thigh. 

“Damn it, I'd rather be quiet than say ugly things. I was really bad at communicating with Zia, whereas when communicating with clients everything could go smoothly. What's wrong with me?” 

Zio was still constantly blaming himself for the chatter that had just happened with Zia. Though so far Zia has always been kind to him and according to whatever Zio does, but unfortunately Zio can not judge it well because of a strange feeling that he can not explain. He had no idea what kind of feeling was bothering him right now.